HYDERABAD: A fact-finding team of activists from various rights bodies on Tuesday demanded registration of a fresh FIR, on behalf of the state, pertaining to the death of a woman, Waziran Chachar, whose mutilated body was found dumped on a road in Jamshoro on June 27.

The team comprised Amar Sindhu, Naseem Jalbani, Dr Rukhsana Preet, Haseen Musarrat and Najma Panhwar of the Women’s Action Forum; Dr Aisha Dharejo of the Sindh Sahai Sath, Comrade Alia Buxal of the Democratic Women Front, Farzana Buriro of the IRC, Sanam Mangi of Let Women Live and Marvi Awan of the Women Protection Centre.

The team met parents and in-laws of the victim, her close friends, the medical superintendent concerned and others to reach a conclusion.

Amid a controversy suggesting that she was stoned to death by her parents or/and in-laws in the name of ‘honour’, the committee in its report noted some deliberate flaws in the FIR lodged by her parents.

The relevant section of the law was not added, activists of the rights bodies told the media while sharing the report of the 10-member committee.

Those who spoke to the media included Amar Sindhu, Rozina Junejo, Gulbadan Javed, Haseen Musarrat, Sanam Mangi and Marvi Latifi.

They said that given the nature of the incident, the FIR should have been registered by police on behalf of the state to avoid chances of compromise in the case.

The report described the post-mortem report in the case as flawed and unprofessional.

The report strongly opposed a DNA test to identify her unborn baby.

The committee suggested that police should widen the scope of investigation, and expressed its dissatisfaction over the police investigation done so far.

It believed that the report was kept incomplete intentionally or unintentionally due to external pressure.

It pointed out that the woman suffered multiple injures including fractured bones and cuts on her body but the post-mortem report did not contain necessary details.

It observed that Wadda Chachar village, which she belonged to, was considered to have less belief in the concept of patriarchal honour and there was no restriction on free movement of womenfolk there.

It noted that the victim was married in the same family but her’s was considered to be a free-will marriage. Her mother and other relatives confirmed that she was her husband’s choice. Some people told the committee that she did not like her in-laws and used to remain alone in her room.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2020